huckstery
(ˈhʌkstərɪ)
Forms: see huckster.
[f. huckster n. + -y.]
1. The trade or business of a huckster; the place in which he carries on his trade; pl. the goods dealt in by him (cf. groceries).
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 141 Heo haþ holden hoxterye [C. vii. 233 huckustrye] þis Elleuene wynter. 1611 Cotgr., Regratement, a..mending, or tricking vp of old things for sale; hucksterie. 1826 Blackw. Mag. XIX. Pref. 20 In the very shops and huxteries of our remotest towns and villages. 1833 Fraser's Mag. VIII. 280 A dealer in various articles, which..we shall call huxteries. |
2. Petty bargaining, haggling; stickling.
| 1662 J. Chandler Van Helmont's Oriat. 243 A more slow and delicate digestion doth loath all things, as it were with much huckstery. Ibid. 308 Great eaters, and those who are brought up with dainty huckstery, are..notably lean. |
3. attrib.
| 1824 Galt Rothelan I. i. vi. 55 Under the pent-house of a huxtry shop. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 12 June 4/3 The huckstery scheme of the Indian Government, spoken of as the Durand Treaty. |